Writing device



July 23, 1946. BERUNER 2,404,563

WRITING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2,1945

Z8 y gagil JNVENTOR. ,4; 55 MART/1v HEEL/N56.

48 BY a) Patented July 23, 1946 WRITING DEVICE Martin Berliner, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bermat Products Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,743

5 Claims.

This invention relates to writing devices for permanent use, and more particularly to a writing device susceptible of being operated to render indicia on its surface readily indiscernible or to eiface such indicia. r

A writing device of such type includes a writing unit consisting of a plurality of successive layers, outer layers and intermediate layers, respectively, the uppermost layer being transparent and being exposed to View at'a window of the casing of the device.

In order to produce indicia on the writing device, pressure is exerted on the transparent uppermost layer against a thin, translucent sheet to be impressed .upon layers therebelow, the latter including a preferably black, wax-covered support which coacts with said translucent sheet or 2 which is necessary to bring about full action of the implement for separation of the layers of the writing unit,

Yet, another object of this invention is to-provide a gradual fixation of the locking device'so that no part of the writingunit may be actuated and the latter is protected from displacement as long as the locking device is in operative position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent, as the following description of the embodiment of the invention'progresses which are illustrated on the In practice it has been found that such devices do not properly and adequately function under high humidity and when higher temperatures are prevailing, This deficiency becomes more apparent when the writing device is set in a wedge- .shaped casing or housing to beused on a desk and where the additional problem arises of uniformlyoperating the device over its entire area down to its lowermost extremity. V

The present invention does away with those and other disadvantages and drawbaclm in the manipulation of such writing devices; 7

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide means for obtaining a uniform and longer stroke for operating the implement used for separating the aforesaid layers and without enlarging or substantially -modifying the casing as heretofore used.

It is another object of the invention to provide an eflicient, relatively short and compact writing device of the aforesaid type, which is simplified with respect to its construction and manipulation and assures speedy and proper functioning dur-' ing any atmospheric conditions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide locking means for maintaining the writing unit temporarily and firmly in operative position, said locking means including an indicator which discloses or makes the desired position of said locki'ng means conspicuous from without the casing.

7 Still another object of the invention is to provide locking means affording when in inoperative position, clearance for effectuation of the stroke attached drawing, in which:

. Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the writing device made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fi 1.

Fig. 4 shows the writing device as seen in Fig. 3 with removed bottom.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the lower corners of the device as illustrated in Fig, 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view on an enlarged scale of the device, shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 shows the device as seen in Fig. 6 in a different position.

Fig. 8 shows a rear elevational view of the dev vice illustrated in Fig. 1 but on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show fragmentary, sectional views of details located in the interior of the device of Fig. 1 to which reference is made in the specification. r 7 Referring now in particular to the drawing, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 a casing having the window 2i at which is exposed to view a writing unit 22.- Figs. 1 and 2 further show the button 23 for actuating the writing unit in order to efface any indicia. 24 visible through the uppermost layer of the writing unit at window2l.- r r The casing 20 is wedge-shaped (Fig. 2) and has'the legs 25, 25, 21 and 28 forming depressions of'the base plate 29 of the device. Fixed within the rear wall 30 of the device is a string 3| carrying a stylus 32 to impress indicia on writing unit 22. The front surface 33 of the writing device 29 has a groove 34' forming a rest for stylus or pencil 32 when not in use. 1

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the

hollow frame 35 houses the writing unit or pad 7 frame 35 the hollow offrame 35 by means of holding pins or projections 44, 44a at the'lower part (Figs. 4:

and 5) of frame 35, and further by means of a rivet 45 passing through respective openings 4 ment of bottom plate 36 from projections 44, 44d Within frame 35.

According to the present invention, rod 49 which carries the spring 50 is disposed adjacent the lowermost edge of the side walls 52, 53 and affords an increased stroke of the bottom plate 33 relatively to transparent'sheet 4!] and translucent sheet 4| whereby the particular advantage is obtained that button 23 may be pressed to such an extreme position that a'full clearance between'the upper waxed layer t1 and the translucent sheet 4| is achieved along the entire length 7 of the latter.

' fT-his result is of importance for the effective provided in upper frame part of frame35, of

sheet 40 and of frame 452 carrying tissue sheet 4|. Against frame 42 carrying on its upper surface tissue sheet el releasably abuts the upper surface 3? of bottom plate 36 which firmly carries on its raised portion Sla a' colored wax layer 'i. Bottom plate 3t is held in position within frarn'e ti'i by means of the aforesaid projections M,v 45a, stamped out of the forward rim d8 of Bottom plate 3t underlies with the lowermost end of its underface 36a projections M,ld4a and is (thus retained in engagement with frame t2. Frame M is arranged with respect tolbottom plate 38 in superposed position. 7 Bottomplate 35 is further held in position within frame 3.5 by said element or stud 23 guided in I In o-rderto assure? releasable pressure of wax layer 41 carrying raised portione'iav against the unclerface. of tissue sheet ii, a spring member 53 is provided which is secured on a rod. 49 traviersingframe 35. andheld in position thereon in openings 5!. These openings 5! are arranged .inoppcsed side walls 52, 53 of frame 35, and at and extending through opening 230, provided a ,in theupper portion of frame ofrcasingffl.

a location thereof which ensures a long stroke for the movement of stud 23, as will be later described. v i

Ascan be 'seenin Figs. 4, 6 and 7, spring 559 is provided with an upwardlyprojecting portion a abutting against the underface 351a bfframe 3,5- and further with"up.wardly extending legs .Etihabutting against the upper portion of underfacefliifia (if-bottom platei3ii..

i As can be"easily realizedupon impressing moved relatively to and spaced or separated from translucent tissue sheet; if and transparent sheet 3 40,; thereby causing eifacement of the indicia 24 previously discernible -threugh transparent sheet as. 1 During the aforesaid strokabottom plate 36 swings about the retainer pins 44; 44a to such 'an extent that even indicia appearing at the lowermost portion of sheet fit and exposed to View in window 2| aremade effectively indiscernible.

In ordergto about a free-swinging move mentlaboutretainer pins i t, 34a, frame plate 2 as well as. bottomplatc 36 have lateral cutouts 54.; are .whichextend from their outer ends toward said pins. Bottom plate tfi'or' frame plate :izf ay be-provided with lateral stopping means 5555a (Fig. 4)"in order to prevent disengagefunctioning of the writing device even under high humidity and other unfavorable conditions depending upon the influence of the atmosphere.

The positioning of the rod 49 opposite button 23 further has the advantage of providing a stop or abutment for the end of button 23 which, as illustrated in Fig. '7, contacts in said extreme position said rod. 7

Inorder to impair the movement of button 23 in the event that no eifacement of the indicia produced on the translucent sheet 4| is desired,

interfittingflformations forming locking means are provided according to the invention so as to releasably fix in position bottom plate 36 carrying the wax layer 41. To this end, button element; 23 may be rotated to bring about movement of-lever 38 from a position as indicated in dot-dash line at 3% to aposition as illustrated in Fig. 8. By turning element 23 to the effect that lever 38 (beingone'of. the interfitting formations) may be swung in the direction of arrow A to the position B (Fig. 4), the forward end 38b is caused to enter a slot 56 (being the other of the interfitting formations). which has an inclined portion 51 and a'substantially horizontal portion 58. When the forward end 38b enters the inclined portion 5'! and isthen further moved to the horizontal portion 58 thereof, a gradual pressure of the bottom plate 36 against; translucent sheet 4| is obtained, as may be easilyivisualized.

. In the position as illustratediin Figs. 1 to 4, 6 and 8, the indicia producing Writing unit. or'pad '22 is held with its parts 40-, 4|, 4'! and 36 in firm and tight engagement with one another.

In such position, the impression of these parts of which the writin unit 22 consists'is readily facilitated and contributes to a clear and Jun:-

blurred appearance and, discernibility of the indicia When thevwriting device isheld inlocked position, effacement of the indicia cannot ,bephad before the aforesaid fitting formations becomedisengaged, whereby the lever 38 will be moved out of its locking position in slot 56, in which the projecting lever end 381) is clearly Visible from the outside (Fig.1), 7 V V Ascan be seen in Figs. 6 and '7 base plate 29 frictionally engages the lower ends of rear wall 30, sidewalls '52, 53, and rim, 48. and may rest against rod 49 in fixed position and thus assures a horizontal alignment and contact with thesurface of a table on which the wedge-shaped casing- ZG of the writing device may be placed;

As many possible embodiments of the above invention may be made, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all'matters hereinbe: fore disclosed or shown in the accompanying drawing areto be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. r 7

Having thus described the invention, what" is" claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a writing pad of the kind described contained within a casing and having a translucent sheet pressed upon and caused to adhere to a colored Wax layer; a push button seated in said casing and operable from without said casing to space said translucent sheet from said wax layer, and engageable interfitting formation forming locking means, said interfitting formations being connected with said push button and being provided in said casing, respectively, whereby said push button is prevented from spacing said translucent sheet from said wax layer upon engagement of said interfitting formations of said locking means.

2. A writing device of the kind described having a casing enclosing a translucent sheet pressed upon and caused to adhere to a colored wax layer comprising an element projecting from within said casing therewithout and operable for moving said translucent sheet relatively to said wax layer for spacing the same from said translucent sheet, and locking means including engageable interfitting formations, said interfitting formations being respectively disposed on said casing and at said element, whereby upon movement of said element for engagement of said interfitting formations with each other operation of said element is impeded.

3. The combination, in a writing device of the kind described having a casing enclosing a translucent sheet pressed upon and caused to adhere to a colored wax layer, of a push button seated in said casing and operable to move said translucent sheet relatively to said wax layer for spacing the same from one another, with locking means arranged for actuation by said push button, whereby in one position of said locking means the operation of said push button is impeded, while in another position of said locking means said push button is released for movement so as to space said wax layer from said translucent sheet.

4. The combination, in a writing device ofthe kind described having a casing enclosing a translucent sheet pressed upon and caused to adhere to a colored wax layer, of an element extending from said casing and operable to move said translucent sheet relatively to said wax layer for spacing the same from one another, with looking means arranged for actuation by said element, said locking means comprising a lever connected with said element, and a slot provided in said casing and engageable and disengageable by said lever, whereby upon engagement of said lever with said slot the operation of said element is impeded, while said lever when disengaging said slot releases said element for movement to space said wax layer from said translucent sheet.

5. The combination according to claim 4, characterized in that'said slot has an inclined portion and a substantially horizontal portion,

whereby upon engagement of said lever with said slot a gradual pressure of said wax layer against said translucent sheet is achieved.

MARTIN BERLDTER. 

